Hairy caterpillars are a major pest of cardamom crops. These caterpillars are voracious feeders and can quickly defoliate entire cardamom plants. They are gregarious in nature, meaning they live in groups. During the day, they congregate on the trunks of shade trees that are often grown alongside cardamom plants. At night, they descend on the cardamom plants to feed.
- Scientific name: Eupterote cardamomi
- Type: Chewing Pest
- Target: Leaves
- Damage: Bore in flower bud
Identification:
- Adult: The adult is a large, bright yellow moth with prominent black wavy lines and patches on its wings.
- Larva: The larva is the destructive stage of this pest. They are robust, dark purplish brown with a black head, and covered in long grey tipped hairs.
- Eggs: Eggs are laid on the underside of the leaves of shade trees that provide cover for the cardamom crop. The eggs are dome-shaped.
Environmental favorable factors for pests/Diseases:
- Warm weather: Hairy caterpillars are most active in warm weather.
- Humid conditions: Hairy caterpillars prefer humid conditions.
Symptoms of Pest/Disease:
- Damage to flowers, capsules and inflorescence: Hairy caterpillars bore into and feed on flower buds, flowers, and immature capsules.
- Holes in capsules: Affected capsules will have large circular holes from the feeding activity.
- Discolored and decaying capsules: The attacked capsules turn yellowish-brown and eventually decay and fall off.
Measures to control Pests/Diseases:
| Products | Technical Name | Dosage |
| EMA5 | Emamectin benzoate 5 % SG | 80-100 grams per Acre |
| Attack-CS | Lambda-Cyhalothrin 4.9 % cs | 300-500 ml per Acre |
| Docter 505 | Chloropyriphos 50 % + cypermethrin 5 % EC | 300 ml per acre |
